Improvement in dredgers



T. J. CLEPPER Dredgers.

Patented Nov. 26,1872.

AM. PHZITO-LII/IUGRAFHIC COJLK rosaonwzs PROCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Semen.

THOMAS J. CLEPPljlR, OF COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT m oaeoeeas.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,303, dated November26, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. GLEPPER, of Columbia, in the county ofLancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvementsin the Mode of Raising Sand from the Bed of a River, of which thefollowing is a specification:

The nature of my invention consists in providing a more efficient meansto raise sand spective view of my united boats with the derrick, thechains with their buckets elevated. Fig. 2 is a side View of thechain-wheel and central beam for the lower pulley with the buckets, thechains shown in a single series.

Near the rear of this double boat B B, and on the edge of the open spacewhich separates the two united boats sufficiently to 'admit of the freeaction of the lower pulley and its appliances, I erect a standard, G, oneach side, for the bearings of the shaft of the chainwheel H in boxes g.The chain-wheel H consists of three cast projecting flanges, say twoinches thick, separated the proper distance apart, and provided witheight notched projections on their circumference, at regular intervals,in such a manner as to receive the round bars P, which connect the twoseries of fiat links T, while the links remain on the outer face of saidflanges H of the chain-wheel combined in their movement over the saidwheel. There are also two beams, E, united by cross-timbers F. Thesebeams are provided at one end with boxes h, and hang outside each flangeH of the chain-wheel on its shaft as a fulcrum. The lower ends of thesebeams E approximate each other, and form the bearings for thefive-angled flanged pulley I, for the endless chain and'buckets S,placed at regular intervals, to scoop up the sand and discharge the sameat the rear of the boat.

ing, raising, or lowering the dip of the buckets, by any of the ordinarymechanical appli ances for operating and holding the same, attached totheupper end of the derrick D, which is raised in front centrally, andprovided with two legs, one on each boat or side of the open space, andin an inclined position.

There is no special novelty in the construction of the endless chain,links, buckets, &e., separately considered, as such are met with indredging-machines and elevators of various kinds; nor in the applicationof steam to propel the chain-wheel by suitable gearing, as the intentionis 5 nor for anchoring the boat when employed for scooping up the sand.The novelty consists, mainly, in the combination and arrangement of theparts to adapt it for scooping up from any depth (from eight to twentyfeet) sand from the bottom of a river, and discharging the same at thestern into a boat drawn up for its reception, which, as it is beingfilled up, is pushed forward across the stern of the sand-elevatorsuntil the same has a full load, to move 0% to give place for anotherboat to be filled in'like manner. The hanging weight of the chains andbuckets will offer sufficient traction to overcome the resistance of thesand in scooping up.

The arrangement of the several parts to adapt the whole for collecting,elevating, and discharging sand into another boat is both novel anduseful; therefore,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is--= The combination of the boat or boats B, with its derrick D, hangerR, beams E, forming a bearin g for the chain-pulley I, and swinging inboxes 9 on the shaft of the chain-wheel H, together with the buckets Sand endless chain T, all arranged substantially in the manner and forthe purpose specified.

' THOMAS J CLEPPEB. Witnesses S. B. GLEPPER, HENRY MULLEN.

